Mickelson Rules The Roost At Doral

But Goose, Tiger And Several Other Creatures Lurk Near The Lead, Poised For A `Dogfight.'

March 5, 2005|By Steve Elling, Sentinel Staff Writer

MIAMI -- When Stewart Cink took a gander at the Goose, Tiger and the many other predatory creatures dotting the leaderboard at the Ford Championship at Doral heading into the weekend, it was hard not to be impressed.

Then again, with 11 of the top 12 players in the world rankings entered this week, a list that includes Cink, the logjam of talent is just what the organizers ordered in their quest to put Doral back on the map as a premier stop on the PGA Tour.

"It's exactly what they hoped for," said Cink, who shot 7-under-par 65. "It's going to be a great dogfight, I think."

With a searing Phil Mickelson seeking his third consecutive stroke-play victory and leading the parade by two shots at 14-under 130, there are nearly more big-name players on the marquee leaderboard than there are available lightbulbs.

"All of these guys have been playing well the last year or so," said Tiger Woods, who is tied for fifth, five shots back. "So that's no real surprise."

It looks like a team photo for the world golf rankings. Five of the top nine on the list are within six shots of Mickelson, who is No. 4 in the world and threatening to head north in a hurry. Over his last nine stroke-play rounds, Mickelson has ended his day as the tournament leader. Even as the marked man, he continues to accelerate.

"Well, I haven't really thought about that," he said. "The only thing that matters is leading on Sunday and that's kind of the goal right now."

The hole must look like a hockey goal. In his 19 stroke-play rounds this year, Mickelson is a scathing 71 under par.

"Yeah, but who's counting?" he cracked.

Everybody, actually. Given the guys on his heels, Mickelson isn't going to downshift soon, either.

"I feel like I've got to go and keep pushing for more birdies," said Mickelson, who shot 66.

Despite a string of three consecutive bogeys on his back nine, Woods is locked in a tie with top-ranked Vijay Singh, No. 9 David Toms, defending champion and fellow Isleworth resident Craig Parry, and Cink. Goosen and Sergio Garcia, ranked Nos. 5 and 6, are tied with 2000 Doral champion Jim Furyk at 8 under, all at six strokes back.

That said, Mickelson appears to be almost infallible. Even when he hit it sideways -- like he did with a driver in hand on his 17th hole -- he ended up in the fairway. In this case, he hit a spectator in the shoulder and the ball bounded back into the short grass.

"Just another fairway hit," Mickelson cracked. "I was thankful for the assist."

Woods had played 62 successive bogey-free holes at Doral before he dropped a shot on his third hole Friday. After surging into the lead at 11 under, he started making bogeys habitual, reeling off three in a row on his back nine.